Like Donny, I find myself out of my element in reviewing Amiensus' Restoration.

Ok, so unlike Theodore Donald Karabotsos I do have a frame of reference, although Meloblack has never really been my thing. Like my coffee, I prefer my black metal straight, harsh and not loaded with sugary additives. It just doesn't move me with all the rough edges removed. And thus the biggest problem with the album actually lies with the reviewer.

Found this little gem while using the Bandcamp Discovery feature. Very solid and beautifully crafted American progressive melodic black metal with bits of post-metal strewn about as well.

Here is what the band has to say about the album:
"The result was something that had some rhythmical qualities and aesthetics coming from the black metal genre, but paired up with some contrasting melodic influences from genres such as progressive metal, post-rock, doom metal and even a bit of folk. We don't really know what to call it, we just try to call it metal."

Incredible! I thought this year couldn't get any better, but I haven't been this impressed after a single listen in a really long time. Only listened to the first track but I'm convinced I'll love this

I discovered this though using the Bandcamp Discovery feature too. Quite a handy little tool that, although i'm not big on Djent or '-core' genres, which seems to be the main stuff that pops up for me using that feature atm.

This album is the shit! They TRULY transcend musical boundaries and genre limitations like no other.

I wish they'd stop marketing themselves as a black metal band, though. It's once of many styles they touch but this could seriously appeal to the melodic metal crowd, especially gothic, melodic doom, and even darker prog or symphonic fans. Not that it is any of those, just that it's pleasing in a way that those fans might enjoy.

I wish they'd stop marketing themselves as a black metal band, though. It's once of many styles they touch but this could seriously appeal to the melodic metal crowd, especially gothic, melodic doom, and even darker prog or symphonic fans.

Yeah, I felt the same way about that. I could see fans of bands like Opeth enjoying this release a lot.